Device for digitally generating images

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for digitally generating images on photo-sensitive material comprising a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit and imaging optics. According to the invention, the LCD unit and the imaging optics are mounted in the same lens tube.

[0001] The invention relates to a device for digitally generating imagesaccording to the main subject of claim 1.

[0002] Conventional photography on the basis of silver halide film isincreasingly supplemented by electronic components both on the recordingside, e.g., cameras, and in the course of the subsequent processing ofthe film. For example, modern cameras may record additional informationrelating to the image such as the recording date, a greeting text orother information on the film. In this context, films have been knownnow for some time that carry a magnetic recording layer, whereinformation from the camera can be provided to the film for subsequentfilm processing steps. Such a film and the corresponding processingprocedure are disclosed, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,313.

[0003] Furthermore, it is often desired to print additional informationsuch as greeting texts during the subsequent processing procedure, i.e.,after the photographic development of the film, on or next to thephotographic prints generated from said film. Increasingly it is alsodesired to output images in photographic quality onto photographicmaterial directly from an electronic image source, e.g., from anelectronic memory as is used in digital cameras, a computer or ascanner.

[0004] Increasingly, so-called index prints are generated in photofinishing processes. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,827 presents such aprocess. In this process, all images of a photographic film are scannedopto-electronically and compiled electronically to an image thatcontains all individual images of the film. The individual images aresupplemented with corresponding information such as film number, imagenumber, recording date, motif text, etc., and this image is then outputas an index print. Photographic photo finishing methods distinguishbetween so-called offline index print systems and inline index printsystems.

[0005] In a so-called offline index print system, the index images areseparated from the remaining photo prints and output using a separateprinter and subsequently assigned to the remaining images. In an inlineindex print system, on the other hand, the index prints are generatedtogether with the individual prints of the individual images of thephotographic film in one and the same device. This device then iscapable of outputting both conventional images optically onto copymaterial and electronic image signals onto the same copy material. Themain advantage of the inline index print system is that the order of theindex prints generated already matches up with the images of the photosordered, thus no longer requiring the extra effort of sorting.

[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a methodand a device where electronic image signals can be output in high—i.e.,photographic—quality onto light-sensitive recording medium, whereby therequired means are to be as simple as possible and where the arrangementis suitable for an inline index print system. In addition, the deviceshould be designed such that a conventional photographic copier can beeasily retrofitted with said device.

[0007] This objective is achieved by a device with the featuresspecified in the characteristic portion of claim 1. Due to the fixedassignment between the LCD unit—that is, the image-generatingcomponent—and the reproduction optics, a depth of focus of the image canbe achieved such that tolerances in the paper guiding system or inpositioning the device in the beam path are without negative influenceson the image quality.

[0008] The preferred type of reproduction optics is a fixed focal lengthoptics because in this case the distance between LCD unit andreproduction optics can be adjusted accurately at the plant. However,similar advantages are achieved with a zoom optics, where the distancebetween the LCD unit and the reproduction optics, although not constant,is not dependent on the assembly of the device in the copier because avery accurate assignment is provided between LCD (objective plane) andreproduction optics through the adjustment in the same lens barrel.

[0009] The control electronics of the LCD unit is preferably alsoincluded in the lens barrel. In this manner, the calibration of thedevice, e.g., with respect to edge drop, can already be performed at thefactory, and the corresponding correction values can be stored in thecontrol electronics. An additional calibration after the installation ofthe device in a photographic copier is then no longer necessary,

[0010] A telecentric reproduction optic is provided to ensure a sharpreproduction of the image generated with the LCD unit. However, sincethis optics only allows the parallel beams near the axis to passthrough, a condenser is additionally provided in the lens barrel. Such acondenser parallelizes the light emitted by the light source so thatessentially only parallel light passes through the LCD unit, while stillachieving a high light yield.

[0011] The invention is particularly suitable for retrofittingphotographic projection copiers for providing electronic image signalsof pointwise assembled images. This requires, in addition to the lensbarrel with its integrated components, only an adjustment of theelectronic control means of the projection copier. In order to switch acopier between a conventional projection mode, where a conventional filmoriginal is copied onto a light-sensitive recording material (inparticular, a color negative film original onto a color negativerecording paper), and a fully electronic mode, where electronic imagesignals are output onto the color negative paper, it is planned, inparticular, that the lens barrel for outputting the electronic image beinserted, or more specifically slid, into the beam path. For thispurpose, the lens barrel with the LCD unit and the reproductionobjective for the exposure of the transparent original are attached to acommon slide that is moved into a position corresponding to the selectedmode.

[0012] With such a design, a white light source of the conventionalprojection copier together with the respective color filter unit can beused for both generating a conventional copy and as a light source forthe unit for generating the electronic image to output the electronicimage signals onto light-sensitive recording material.

[0013] Details and advantageous embodiments of the invention aredescribed in the sub-claims and based on an exemplary embodiment and thefigures of which

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention with an LCD unitand a reproduction objective in the same lens barrel, and

[0015]FIG. 2 shows a photographic copier according to the invention.

[0016] The lens barrel 1 shown in FIG. 1 contains a condenser 2 forcombining and parallelizing the light, an LCD unit 3 for generating theimage and a reproduction optics 4 that is used to expose the imagegenerated by the LCD unit sharply onto light-sensitive paper. The LCDunit consists of the actual LCD and a control electronics 5. The controlelectronics is connected to a connector 7 via the cable 6. Digital imagedata pass from the photographic copier to the control electronics viasaid connector 7.

[0017] The reproduction optics is designed as a telecentric objectivesuch that only parallel light is reproduced. In this manner, a sharp anddistortion-free reproduction of the image generated by the LCD ispossible.

[0018] The condenser 2 is provided to capture sufficient light foressentially short exposure times. The condenser collects the lightemitted by the light source, which is not shown in FIG. 1; itparallelizes the light such that only parallel light passes through theLCD.

[0019] A memory, which is not shown in the drawing and which is part ofthe control electronics 5, is where calibration data can be stored. Inthis manner, the calibration values, e.g., for the edge drop, canalready be obtained and stored in the memory during the adjustment atthe factory. These values are then available at any time for generatingthe digital images in the photographic copier.

[0020] The photographic copier in FIG. 2 is suitable for generatingpaper pictures from both transparent films and from digital images.

[0021] The light emitted by the light source 11 is influenced inaccordance with the correction values determined by the filter unit 10and provided to the light mixture duct. The film stage, where theoriginal films are positioned and secured in their position during theexposure process is provided underneath the light mixture duct.

[0022] A zoom objective 8 and the lens barrel 1 with the LCD unit 3(FIG. 1) and the reproduction objective 4 are mounted on a support 15that travels in the direction of the double arrow.

[0023] The light-sensitive material 12 is positioned on a paper stage(not shown).

[0024] When processing conventional film, the support 15 is moved suchthat the zoom objective is located in the beam path. The film will bepositioned image by image on the film stage 13 once the film to beprocessed has been scanned and the individual color values have beendetermined. This is followed by three exposures in the colors blue greenand red. This procedure is repeated until all copy-able images of thefilm have been exposed onto the photographic paper.

[0025] To generate the index print, the film is transported out of thefilm stage and the support 15 is moved such that the lens barrel 1 islocated in the beam path. The film stage need not be moved out of thebeam path such that no additional manual activities are required.

[0026] The unit is supplied with the digital image data and the LCD iscontrolled accordingly via the connector 7. Now in succession, 3 colorextracts are exposed onto the photographic paper based on the control ofthe filter unit 10. Thereafter, the support 15 can again travel to theposition where the zoom objective is located in the beam path and thecopier is ready to process the next film.

[0027] Of course, not only index prints can be generated with the devicesubject to the invention but it is also suitable for generating allkinds of digital images. For example, data from digital cameras or fromphoto CDs may be exposed onto light-sensitive material. In addition, thedevice according to the invention is also suitable for generatinggreeting cards, calendar sheets or other pictures that are to beprovided with additional text.

1. A device for digitally generating multi-color images onto photographic paper with a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit and a reproduction optics, characterized in that the LCD unit and the reproduction optics are installed in the same lens barrel.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the LCD unit includes a control electronics.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that the calibration values are stored in the control electronics.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that in addition a condenser is included in the lens barrel.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a fixed distance is set between LCD unit and reproduction optics.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the reproduction optics is designed as a telecentric objective.
 7. A device for exposing transparent originals onto light-sensitive materials with a light source, a support for the transparent original and a stage for the light-sensitive material, characterized in that a device as set forth in claim 1 can be inserted in the beam path for exposing digital images.
 8. A device as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that the lens barrel can be moved between the support for the transparent original and the stage for the light-sensitive material.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that a reproduction objective for exposing a transparent original onto the light-sensitive material is removed from the beam path at the same time that the lens barrel is moved into the beam path.
 10. A device as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the lens barrel and the reproduction objective are mounted together on a moveable slide. 